COP-7
delegates met in two Working Groups (WGs). WG-I considered mountain
biodiversity and protected areas (PAs). WG-II discussed technology
transfer and cooperation. Delegates convened in an afternoon Plenary to
hear progress reports on WG-I and WG-II’s work and statements by
organizations, and to address draft decisions on invasive alien species (IAS).

Asghar Mohammadi Fazel, Iran on
behalf of the ASIA AND THE PACIFIC GROUP, says COP-7 should highlight
mountains in the CBD Multi-Year Programme of Work and promote
harmonization of the mountain work programme with other thematic areas.

Cheng Weixue (China) notes that south-south and north-south
cooperation are both important for the implementation of the mountains
work programme.

Elaborating on
the outcomes of the WPC, Peter Shadie (the IUCN) stressed the need for
national-level gap analyses, particularly regarding marine and
freshwater PAs.

Peter Bos (the Netherlands) supports other delegates regarding
the adoption of a concrete and realistic work programme on
protected areas including targets, outcomes and timetables and
building upon other CBD work programmes.

Working Group II: Transfer of technology and technology cooperation

Xia Yingxzan (China), on behalf of the Asian Group, stressed the
importance of technology transfer for the implementation of the CBD’s
objectives and called for more political will to provide support and
guidelines.

Fernando Casas (Colombia), on behalf of GRULAC, said that
technology transfer should bee seen as means for conservation and
sustainable use, as well as means for access and benefit sharing.

Tererei Abete-Reema, Kiribati on behalf of the Pacific SIDS
pointed to the lack of progress in technology transfer.

Osama Mohamed El tayeb (Egypt) reminded delegates that
technology transfer has repercussions on other issues such as ABS and
traditional knowledge.

Ethiopia on behalf of the African Group, Ireland on behalf of the
EU, Bangladesh on behalf of the Asia and Pacific Group, the
Russian Federation, Switzerland and Norway asked for time to
consult on the draft decisions on invasive alien species and
requested that the documents be made available in all UN
languages.